Combined waste can, lid, and enclosure



Dec. 9, 1952 R- LE'HMAN COMBINED WASTE CAN, LID, AND ENCLOSURE Filed Dec. 15, 1949 INVENTOR. .Ro GER LEHM AN Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES FFICE -CO1VIBINED WASTE CAN, LID, .AND ENCLOSURE Roger Lehman, Orange, 2?.

Application'December 15, 1949, Serial N0.I1'33',194

cover for the can permanently movably mounted in said'housing, a pull-out handle'or equivalent for the drawer, and means operable in timed relation to movements ofthe drawer relative toxthe housing and in such manner that when the drawer is fully inserted in-the. housing said cover is lowered down tight on top of the'can and also in such manner that incidental to a'movement of the drawer outwardly of the housing saidcover is raised in the housing and o'ut of engagement with the top of the can therebyto facilitate easy outward slide of the drawer.

As will be understood, the outwardslidi'ng of the drawer will ordinarily be efiected for moving the front limit of the can toa location beyond the front end of the roof wall of the cabinet merely to a sulficient extent to permit garbage or other refuse to be conveniently dropped into the can by way of its open top; while at less frequent intervals the drawer will he slid outwardly to the full extent required'to permit lifting of the can upwardly out of the cabinet for suitable disposal of its waste contents.

A feature of the invention is the'general-simplicity and compactness of the entirety of the new combination, including, especially, the now preferred nature of the can-cover raising andlowering means; said means preferably'mainly incorporating merely two like straight levers each having a field of swing in a plane closely adjacent to a different one of the two side walls'of the housing.

A further object of the present invention proposes several methods of slidably supporting the drawer within the housing so that the drawer may be freely pulled outward when it is desired to place something within the garbage can or remove the same for the purpose of emptying its contents.

The new storage structure may have its cabinet of generally rectangular shape, and be so constructed, as of thin sheet metal, and so finished, for example by being enamelled white, as to provide not only a useful addition to a kitchen, pantry or the like, but also a decorative such addition as well.

It is still another object of the present invention to-construct a storage structure for garbage cans or other similar waste receptacles which issimple and durable and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable-cost.

For further comprehension of the invention,

:and of the objectsand advantages thereof, refer- 2 ence will be had to'th'e following description-and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of-the invention are more-particularly set forth.

In the-accompanying drawings forming a; material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the storagestructure for garbage cans orother waste receptacles constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. :2. is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line-Z-Z of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3'is an enlarged-partial'vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig.6 is an enlarged perspective view-of the front end of one of the tracks used in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to-4.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating a modification of the present invention.

The storage structure for garbage cans and other similar'waste receptacles, according to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, includes a housing I0 having atop wall I I, a back wall I2 and a pair of side wall said housing being whollyopen at itsfront and also open-at its bottom. The housing I ll'is reenforced bya brace I5 extended between'the bottom frontcorners of the side walls I4, see Figs. 2 and 3.

Within the housing I I] there is a drawer I6 comprising a bottom wall I1 and a front wall I8. The drawers bottom wall I'I, along its opposite sides, is supported 'for horizontal travel, by a guide structure incorporating 'a pair of like'tracks- I9 each at the inner side of a'different one of the two side walls I l. Each of the tracks I9 includes,

as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a channel strip plane.

:Said guide structure includes, for coaction with the tracks I 9, not only a floating cylindricalrod 24, but also 'a pair of like rollers 26, see Figs. 2 and'3. The rollers 26ers engaged in'the'tracks IS on opposite sidesof the interior of the housing If! and rotatably mountedion the ends of acrossaxle'2'I.

The axle 21 is suspended horizontally and in proper position by way of a pair of like straps 3] depending from the drawers bottom wall II;

which latter 'has an upstanding rear flange -30 as shown. Each of -the straps 3I is secured at its upper end portion by rivets 32, to the flange 30. With the straps 3| spaced about equally inward from the side walls 14, each has its lower end portion curled for embracing the axle 21. For retaining the axle 21 against rotation, the rod is secured to the straps 3| by pins 33 which also retain the axle 21 against axial movement relative to the straps 3|. From Fig. 3 it will be noted that the straps 3| are positioned in close proximity to the rollers 26 so as to retain the rollers against undesirable axial movement on the cross-axle 21 and in position within the tracks IS.

The ends of the cylindrical rod 24 rest on the top faces of the tracks 19 with the bottom face of the bottom wall I! of the drawer l6 resting on top of the rod. Means is provided for restricting the rod 24 to an area of operation which is normally beneath the front portion of the bottom wall [1 of the drawer, when the drawer I6 is completely pushed into the housing [0, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The restricting means comprises a pair of spaced lugs 29, see particularly Figs. 2, 3 and 5, which projects upward from each of the tracks l9 and on opposite sides of the rod 24. Thus, the lugs 29 act to restrain the rod 24 from rolling too far to the back of the tracks 19, when the drawer I6 is being pushed inward, and from rolling off the front ends of the tracks, when the drawer I6 is being pulled outward, and so provide an adequate support for the front portion of the bottom wall I! of the drawer Hi.

The can is conventionally shown at 34. The can cover is illustrated as in the from of a rectangular plate 35 carrying a pair of like upstanding slotted extensions 36 at its rear edge and a pair of like depending apertured ears 3'! at its front edge.

The can cover 35 is of such width that, as will be noted from Fig. 4, the ears 31, widthwisely of the drawer I 6, are spaced so as to be beyond the lateral limits of the can 34 with the latter resting by its own weight on the drawers bottom wall H.

To each of the two depending ears 3'! at the forward end of the cover 35 adjacent to the front of the housing H], the upper slotted end of a different one of the two like forwardly upwardly inclined levers 38 is pivotally connected by a pin 39. upstanding from the cover 35 at its rear edge, the rear edge of the cover 35 is given a pin and slot mounting within the housing In, by pins 40 applied as shown relative to spacing blocks 4| and the two side walls [4 of the housing.

The lower end of each lever 38 is pivotally connected to a different one of two forwardly bent end portions 3!! of the flange 30 by a pin 42, see Figs. 2 and 3.

The two pin and slot connections participating in the permanent mounting of the cover 35 within the housing In insure that the cover, with the drawer l8 fully inserted as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, will always settle squarely and tightly on the open top of the can 34, even should the latter, in the size fabricated for a cabinet of predetermined capacity, have a height variation from that intended.

The drawer l6 has projected forwardly of its front wall I 8 a handle 43 fixed on said wall.

The operation of the storage structure is as follows:

By simply pulling on the handle 43, the drawer l6 may be partially withdrawn from the housing [0, to the extent desired. If. such with- By means of the slotted extensions 36 drawal is merely to obtain access to the top of the can 34 to permit easy addition of refuse thereto, the pull-out of the drawer may be to a relatively slight extent. When, however, the can is full or so nearly full that it should be emptied, then the drawer will be pulled out to the extent, for instance, indicated in dot and dash lines at w in Fig. 2, to cause the can 34 to become disposed as at 34. As thus located, the can may be then readily bodily lifted from the bottom wall I! for emptying.

In either case, incidental to a pull on the handle 43 in the direction of the arrow 41 of Fig. 2, the pivotal connections between the lower ends of the levers 38 and the forwardly bent end portions 30 will cause the cover 35 to swing upward as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, for being cleared away from the top of the can 34. At the first outward movement of the drawer IS, the lower ends of said levers will be moved toward the dot and dash location 38 thereby to swing the cover 35 toward the dot and dash location 35.

Incidental to a full insertion of the drawer IS, the parts automatically become redisposed as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, thereby reseating the cover 35 on the top of the can 34.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the construction of the storage structure is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5, except for a different method of supporting the front portion of the bottom wall I! of the drawer 16.

The support in this modification of the invention, comprises a pair of rollers 50, one for the front end of each of the tracks [9. The rollers 50 are rotatively supported on pins 5| mounted between the upstanding arms of U-shaped brackets 52. The brackets 52 are in turn fixedly mounted on the top faces of the tracks l9 as by welding, by the application of rivets or in any similar manner.

In other respects, the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that shown in Figs. '1 to 5 and like reference numerals identify like parts in each of the several views.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secur by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A combination waste can, enclosure and can lid, comprising a main housing, a slide out drawer therein having a bottom wall on which a waste can may be positioned to remain upright by its own weight on said bottom wall, a can cover, means for permanently pivotally mounting one side of said cover within said housing to be lowered and raised for respectively closing the top of the can and being spaced above such top to permit slide out of the drawer, a linkage connected between the other side of said cover and the inner end of said drawer so that when said drawer is slid out said cover will be raised to space the same above the can top, said housing having a top wall, a rear wall and a pair of side walls and bein open at its front and at its bottom, said drawer being L-shaped in side elevation and including said bottom wall and a front wall, and rail type guiding means for said bottom wall carried by said side walls near their bottoms.

2. A combination waste can, enclosure and can lid, comprising a main housing, a slide out drawer therein having a bottom wall on which a waste can may be positioned to rem in upright by its own weight on said bottom wall, a can cover, means for permanently pivotally mounting said cover within said housing to be lowered and raised for respectively closin the top of the can and being spaced above such top to permit slide out of the drawer, a linkage connected between th other side of said cover and the inner end of said drawer so that when said drawer is slid out said cover will be raised to space the same above the can top, said housin having a top wall, a rear wall and a pair of side walls and being open at its front end and at its bottom, said drawer being L-shaped in side elevation and including said bottom wall and a front wall, railtype guiding means for said bottom wall carried by said side walls near their bottoms, said can lid being a plate of greater width than the maximum dimension of the can widthwisely of said housing, said pivotal mounting of said cover comprising pin and slot connections between the rear end of the cover and the housing.

3. A combination waste can, enclosure and can lid, comp-rising a main housing, a slide out drawer therein having a bottom wall on which a waste can may be positioned to remain upright by its own weight on said bottom wall, a can cover, means for permanently pivotally mounting said cover within said housing to be lowered and raised for respectively closing the top of the can and being spaced above such top to permit slide out of the drawer, a handle projected from the front end of the drawer, a linkage connected between the other side of said cover and the inner end of said drawer so that when said drawer is slid out by use of said handle said cover will be raised to space the same above the can top, said housing having a top wall, a rear wall and a pair of side walls and being open at its front end and at its bottom, said drawer being L-shaped in side elevation and including said bottom wall and a front wall, and rail-type guiding means for said bottom wall carried by said side walls near their bottoms, said can lid being a plate of greater width than the maximum dimension of the can widthwisely of said housing, said pivotal mounting of said cover comprising pin and slot connections between the rear end of the cover and the housing, said pin and slot connections being adjacent to the opposite limits of the width of the cover, said linkage comprising a pair of levers each close to one of said side walls and pivotally connected at the ends to said drawer and to the front end of the cover.

4. A combination waste can, enclosure and can lid, comprising a main housing, a slide out drawer therein having a bottom wall on which a waste can may be positioned to remain upright by its own weight on said bottom wall, a can cover, means for permanently pivotally mounting one side of said cover within said housing to be lowered and raised for respectively closing the top of the can and being spaced above such top to permit slide out of the drawer, a handle projected from the front end of the drawer, a linkage connected between the other side of said cover and the inner end of said drawer so that when said drawer is slid out by use of said handle said cover will be raised to space the same above the can top, said housing having a top wall, a rear wall and a pair of side walls and being open at its front end and at its bottom, said drawer being L-shaped in side elevation and including aid bottom wall and a front wall, rail-type guidng means for said bottom wall carried by said side walls near their bottoms, said can lid being a plate of greater width than the maximum di mension of the can widthwisely of said housing, said pivotal mounting of said cover comprising pin and slot connections between the rear end of the cover and the housing, said pin and slot connections being adjacent to the opposite limits of the width of the cover, said linkage comprising a pair of levers each close to one of said side walls and extended at an angle to the horizontal, the upper end of each lever being pivotally connected to the front end of the cover, and a pivotal mounting for the lower end of each lever, said mountings fixedly carried by the drawer.

5. A combination waste can, enclosure and can lid, comprising a main housing, a slide out drawer therein having a bottom wall on which a waste can may be positioned to remain upright by its own weight on said bottom wall, a can cover, means for permanently pivotally mounting one side of said cover within said housing to be lowered and raised for respectively closing the top of the can and being spaced above such top to permit slide out of the drawer, a handle projected from the front end of the drawer, a linkage connected between the other side of said cover and the inner end of said drawer so that when said drawer is slid out by use of said handle said cover will be raised to space the same above the can top, said housing having a top wall, a rear wall and a pair of side walls and being open at its front end and at its bottom, said drawer being L-shaped in side elevation and including said bottom wall and a front wall, rail-type guiding means for said bottom wall carried by said side walls near their bottoms, said can lid being a plate of greater width than the maximum di mension of the can widthwisely of said housing, said pivotal mounting of said cover comprising pin and slot connections between the rear end of the cover and the housing, said pin and slot connections being adjacent to the opposite limits of the width of the cover, said linkage comprising a pair of levers each close to one of said side walls and extended at an angle to the horizintal, the upper end of each lever being pivotally connected to the front end of the cover, and a pivotal mounting for the lower end of each lever, said mountings fixedly carried by the drawer, said levers being extended in a forwardly upwardly inclined direction with the drawer fully inserted in the housing.

ROG-ER LEHMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 281,506 Herman July 17, 1883 288,924 Cook Nov. 20, 1883 409,153 Kintz Aug. 13, 1889 601,921 Whitted Apr. 5, 1898 1,062,962 Gaal May 27, 1913 1,788,328 Roberts Jan. 6, 1931 2,233,796 Pines Mar. 4, 1941 2,288,447 Goldberg June 30, 1942 2,343,409 Goldberg Mar. '7, 1944 2,378,419 Loeb et al June 19, 1945 2,444,125 Wheeler June 29, 1948 2,530,336 Marini Nov. 14, 1950 

